Building siding applicator tool



Jan. 20, 1970 w. A. pmmz 3,490,152

BUILDING SIDING APPLICATOR TOOL Filed March 9, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. WILLIAM A. PRINTZ BY MAHONEY, MILLER 8: RAMBO 1 ATTORNEYS Jan. 20, 1970 w. AfPRINTZ 3,490,152

BUILDING SIDINGQAPPLICATOR TOOL Filed March 9, 1967 4 SheetS- -Sheet z INVENTOR. WILLIAM A. PRINTZ BY I9 I & MAHONEY, MILLER a RAMBO 3:. E a 74 ATTORNEYS Jan. 20, 1970 w, A, ZPRINTZ 3,490,152

' BUILDING SIDIN'G APPLICATOR TOOL Filed March 9, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. WILLIAM A, PRIN TZ BY MAHONEY, MILLER 8 RAMBO BY g ATTORNEYS Jan. 20, 1970 w. A. PRINTZ 3,490,152

Filed March 9, 1967 BUILDING SIDING APPLICATOR TOOL 4 Sheets-Sheet t WILLIAM A. PRINTZ BY MAHBq NEY, MILLER 8: RAMBO ATTORNEYS United States Fatent O 3,490,152 BUILDING SIDING APPLICATOR TOOL William A. Printz, Rte. 2, Belle Center, Ohio 43310 Filed Mar. 9, 1967, Ser. No. 621,944 Int. Cl. G01b 3/30, /16; B25b 5/14 US. Cl. 33-488 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tool which comprises a handle with a lower portion adapted to be clamped to the lower edge of a siding strip already applied and with an upper portion providing an upwardly opening socket for receiving the lower edge of the siding strip to be applied next above and locate it with the proper overlap of the upper siding strip downwardly over the lower siding strip.

According to my invention I provide a tool which is especially useful for applying that type of building siding which is in the form of strips applied horizontally in suitable lengths and ordinarily known as clapboard siding with an upper strip having its lower edge overlapping the upper edge of the next lower strip. The tool is in the form of a handle adapted to clamp onto the lower strip in a preselected position thereon and is so formed that its upper portion provides an upwardly opening socket for receiving the lower edge of the strip next above. The socket will receive and hold the upper strip so that it will lap downwardly over the lower strip to a predetermined extent. The tool will hold the upper siding strip in lapping position over the lower strip, freeing both hands of the carpenter so that he can more readily nail the upper strip in the predetermined lapping relationship to the lower strip.

In the accompanying drawings, I have given preferred examples of a tool embodying my invention.

In these drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view showing, in side edge elevation, one form of tool embodying my invention, in use in applying the siding.

FIGURE 2 is a view of the outer or handle side of the tool taken from the position indicated at line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 and showing the clamping means of the tool in siding clamping position.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but showing the clamping means in non-clamping position.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 55 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal view taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 5 and showing parts of the clamping means.

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is an edge elevational view, partly broken away, showing another form of the tool.

FIGURE 9 is an elevational view of the outer or handle side of the tool of FIGURE 8.

With reference to the drawings, one of the preferred forms of my invention is shown in FIGURES 1-7 and includes generally a main handle portion 10, a lower clamping means 11 and an upper socket means 12.

The handle portion may be of suitable shape and suitable material but is shown as being of substantially U-form with a vertical hand grip 13, an inwardly extending lower arm portion 14 and an inwardly extending upper arm portion 15. Adjacent the lower end of the hand grip 13, the handle is provided with a yoke formation which extends laterally in both directions and then inwardly, parallel to the central lower portion 14, to provide the inwardly directed parallel arm portions 16. The inner extremity of the arm 14 and the inner downwardly extending extremities 17 of the arms 16 are bolted by bolts 18 (FIGURES 1, 3 and 4) to a spacer plate or strip 19 which extends transversely thereof, this strip being of a thickness corresponding substantially to that of the siding strip S to be applied. This spacer strip 19 is, therefore, removable and can be replaced with another of different thickness. Attached to the rear side of the strip 19 by the same bolts 18 is an upstanding stop and clamping strip 20 which has some resiliency and is bent forwardly slightly toward its upper edge.

Cooperating with this relatively fixed clamping strip 20 is a movable clamping shoe 21 which extends transversely substantially parallel to the strip 20 and is carried for in and out sliding movement on the forward portions of the two support arm portions 16 (FIGURE 6) at a level above the end extremities 17 and directly behind the member 20. The forward upper portion of each arm 16 is provided with a fixed guide tongue or extension 22 (FIGURES 6 and 7) and the shoe 21 has at each end a guide socket portion 23 which slidably receives this tongue. Thus, the two ends of the shoe 21 are slidably mounted for forward and rearward or in and out movement on the forward upper portions of the arms 16.

Movement is imparted to the shoe 21 by means of a toggle linkage arrangement so that the upright shoe is moved from a retracted position slightly behind the spacer strip 19 (FIGURE 4) to a forward gripping position in cooperation with the plate 20 and strip S cooperating therewith (FIGURE 3). This linkage comprises a forward link 25 which is pivoted at its forward or inner end at 26, to the rear or outer end of a bifurcated lug 27 that extends outwardly from the rear face of the shoe 21. The rear or outer end of the link 25 is pivoted at 28 to the forward and lower corner of a vertical rocker plate 29 which is provided with a finger grip or handle 30 extending upwardly therefrom along the vertical handle portion 13 and normally spaced slightly forwardly thereof (FIGURES l, 3 and 4). The rocker plate 29 is bifurcated with the link 27 extending between the bifurcations and also straddles the forward or inner end of a carrying link 31 and is fulcrumed thereon as indicated at 32. The rearward or outer end of the link 31 is slidable through the handle portion 13 so that it is axially adjustable therein and it is limited in its axial movement by means of the stop nuts 33 and 36 threaded on the respective forward and rearward ends thereof at corresponding sides of the handle portion 13. The link 31 passes slidably through a bowed leaf spring 34 secured by the screws 35 to the handle portion 13 and associated yoke (FIGURES 3-5) and it will be noted that the nut 33 is forwardly of the spring. The adjacent ends of the links 25 and 31 are provided with stop extensions 37 and 38, respectively, for

. cooperation with each other. In normal retracted position of the shoe 21 (FIGURE 4), the rocker plate 29 is swung forwardly since the link 31 is biased forwardly by the spring 34 which is bowed forwardly at this time and pushing on the nut 33. The stop portion 37 will be swung downwardly and away from the stop portion 38. The rearward nut 36 will be spaced outwardly of the rearward side of the handle portion 13. Also, at this time, the finger grip 30 will be swung forwardly from the stop pin 36. The result is that the shoe 21 will be in the retracted position shown in FIGURE 4.

The intu-rned upper end portion 15 of the handle 12 carries at its inner extremity the socket arrangement 12 which is formed by means of a bearing plate 40 which is disposed upright and is bolted to the forward end of the handle portion 15 by means of the bolts 41. This bearing plate 40 will be .of the same thickness as the lower support and spacer strip 19 and can be removed and replaced with plates of different thicknesses. The inner and outer or forward and rearward faces of this hearing plate 40 are flat and are in parallel relationship. The outer face or forward face is adapted to bear against the outer face of the lower siding strip S when the tool is positioned thereon, as indicated in FIGURE 1. The outer face has fastened thereto, in flat contact therewith, above the handle portion, an upstanding guide spring finger 42. This finger has a lower portion which is upright and parallel with the front face of the plate 40 and a rear wardly inclined upper end 43. The upper edge 44 of the bearing plate 40 is provided with a straight horizontal contact edge 44.

In the use of this tool in applying a series of strips of siding S from bottom to top, the lower strip is first tacked in place along its upper edge where the overlap is to occur. Then the tool in the open or retracted condition illustrated in FIGURE 4 is applied to the lower strip of siding by slipping the clamping strip 20 upwardly behind the lower edge of the lower strip until the upper edge or surface of the spacer strip 19 contacts with the lower edge of the siding strip, as indicated in FIGURE 1. The clamping means is then actuated by means of the hand grip 40 to move the shoe 21 forwardly into contact with the outer or rear face of the lower siding strip. The strip 20 can flex forwardly slightly during the clamping operation to compensate for any irregularities in thickness of the siding, it being understood that the tool has been previously adjusted for siding of a particular average thickness. Further irregularities can be compensated for by the rocker plate 29 and the link 31 which carries it moving rearwardly bodily to a limited degree against the forward biasing action of the back-up spring 34, the link 31 sliding through the handle until the spring is flattened against the forward side of the handle, it being understood that the nut 36 will be moved to a position spaced rearwardly of the handle. At this time, the links 31 and 25 will have moved past longitudinal alignment to the position shown in FIGURE 3 where the limiting stops 37 and 38 thereof are in limiting contact. Thus, the lower portion of the handle will be clamped to the lower edge .of the lower siding strip S. The upper bearing plate 40 will contact with the outer face of that siding strip with the contact edge or surface 44 located a predetermined distance below the upper edge of that siding strip. This will provide an upwardly opening socket between the upper portion of the lower siding strip and the finger 42 for receiving and locating the siding strip S next above as shown in FIG- URE 1. With the lower edge of the uper siding strip in contact with the plate edge 44, the proper overlap of the upper siding strip downwardly over the lower siding strip will be arranged. To apply the next upper siding strip, the clamping means is released and the tool is removed and advanced into clamping engagement with the lower edge of the next upper siding strip, it being understood that this latter strip has been nailed in position at its upper edge but not at its lower edge. This may be continued as the siding is continually applied upwardly with the tool gripping the lower edge of one siding strip and providing an overlap socket at the upper edge of the strip for receiving the lower edge of the next upper siding strip. Nailing of each strip at the lower edge can be completed each time the tool is removed therefrom.

The arrangement shown in FIGURES 8 and 9 is somewhat similar but provides a different handle arrangement 13a. In this instance, the handle projects downwardly from the clamping means 11a rather than upwardly therefrom. The clamping means is substantially the same as before as also is the socket unit 12a but it will be noted that the plate 40a is bolted to the upper end of an arm 15a which is an upstanding vportion of the handle unit 12a. A series of bolt openings 45 are provided in the portion 15a for selectively receiving the bolts 41a so that the plate 40a can be positioned at different levels. This will locate the contact edge 44a at different levels so that the amount of overlap can be varied.

It will be apparent with both forms of this invention a handle or supporting frame arrangement is provided which has a clamping means for clamping on one siding strip and an upwardly opening socket means which receives the lower portion of a strip next above and holds it in proper overlapping relationship with the lower strip.

Many advantages of this structure have been mentioned and others will be apparent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A detachable building siding applicator tool comprising a supporting frame adapted to be vertically positioned at the outer face of the siding strips including a handle means, a clamping mechanism carried by the frame including a first support of a selected thickness removably carried by a lower portion of the frame having an upper gauge edge for engaging the lower edge of a first siding strip already applied and having an inner face, a second support of a selected thickness carried by the frame at a selected level above said first support and at a selected distance outwardly thereof having an upper gauge edge for engaging and locating the lower edge of a siding strip next above to provide for a predetermined overlap of the upper siding strip over the lower siding strip and having an inner face for engaging the outer face of the lower siding strip and having an outer face, means for removably and vertically adjustably securing said second support to said frame, said clamping mechanism being connected for actuation to a grip member movably mounted in cooperation with said handle means, said clamping mechanism comprising an upstanding clamp plate of resilient material attached to said first support at its inner face and extendin upwardly above its upper gauge edge for insertion behind said first siding strip in engagement with an inner face thereof, and a second clamp plate supported outwardly of said first clamp plate on said frame for movement toward and from said first clamp plate to grip or release the lower siding strip disposed between said plates, means for connecting said grip member to said second clamp plate for moving it relative ot the first clamp plate, said second support having an upstanding guide carried at the outer face thereof and extending upwardly above said gauge edge thereof to engage the outer face of the upper siding strip when it is disposed in the upwardly opening socket provided between said guide and the outer face of said lower siding strip.

2. A siding applicator tool according to claim 1 in which said connecting means is adjustable toggle linkage extending outwardly from said second clamp plate to said grip member.

3. A siding applicator tool according to claim 2 in which said toggle linkage is backed up by a yieldable spring means which permits outward movement thereof when moved into clamping position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 248,460 10/1881 Harris 33187 995,574 6/1911 Sarlls 33-187 2,891,318 6/1959 Harrison 2692 X ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner L. GILDEN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 269-36, 309, 228 

